2. A Deal

The sharp clatter of Asia’s coffee cup hitting the table jolted Harper to attention. "So," Asia said, her eyes blazing with impatience, "how’s it going, Harper? Has he met anyone yet? What’s she like? Come on, spill it!"  

Harper sighed, slumping into the chair opposite her friend. The cafe smelled like burnt toast and fresh lattes, but all Harper could taste was the bitterness of her day. Asia had ambushed her the second she left the office, demanding an impromptu meeting.  

"Asia, it’s not as easy as you think," Harper replied, taking a long sip of her coffee, hoping the caffeine would dissolve her irritation.  

Asia leaned forward, her manicured fingers drumming the table. "What’s the problem? Has he not been seeing anyone? That’s so unlike my brother."  

"I think he’s seeing someone," Harper muttered, picking at her fries. "But I don’t know who she is yet."  

Asia gasped dramatically. "When? Details, Harper. Details!"  

"This morning, he mentioned a date. But then, of course, work happened after I threatened to tell Madame Lancaster. Some meeting or something."  

Asia rolled her eyes. "Harper, you should’ve asked about her! You’re his assistant! You’re practically glued to him half the time."  

"And you think that wouldn’t seem suspicious? What do you want me to do, Asia, interrogate him? 'Oh, Mr. Eros, what does your new girlfriend look like? Is she prettier than the last one?'" Harper’s voice dripped with sarcasm.  

Asia smirked. "You could at least try. You've gotten the trick of getting him to some things. Aren’t you tired of playing personal shopper for all his flings?"  

Harper groaned, leaning back in her chair. "Don’t remind me. I’ve bought more perfume, jewelry, and designer bags than I can count. Sometimes I think I should open a gift shop. Call it Gifts for Girlfriends You’ll Forget in a Week."  

Asia laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink. "Or, How to Impress a Woman Without Committing to Her!"  

They  burst into laughter, the kind that earned them a few side-eyes from other customers. But Harper’s laughter was short-lived. She knew Asia’s next words would bring her crashing back to reality.  

"Harper, you know Mom and Dad are coming back soon, right?"  

Harper froze, her fry halfway to her mouth. "So?"  

Asia stared at her like she’d just asked what water was. "So, they’re going to expect answers! Eros has been avoiding this whole ‘settling down’ conversation for years. If he doesn’t have someone to introduce by the time they land, they’ll never let him hear the end of it."  

Harper’s stomach sank. "Asia, that’s not my problem."  

"It is your problem," Asia insisted, her tone sharp. "You’re his assistant. You know his schedule, his habits, his... women. You have to help him. Please, Harper. If he doesn’t have a girlfriend to parade around, Mom will kill him. And me, by extension."  

Harper rubbed her temples, her mind racing. "Asia, do you even hear yourself? How am I supposed to do that? He doesn’t tell me anything personal, and frankly, I don’t care to know."  

"Then find out!" Asia snapped. "You’re smart. Figure something out."  

Before Harper could retort, Asia shoved her phone into her hand. "Call him. Now."  

Harper’s eyes widened. "What? Are you insane? What am I supposed to say?"  

"Improvise!" Asia leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Ask him where he is. Tell him you need to discuss something urgent. Work-related. He’ll buy it."  

Harper’s mind raced as she stared at the phone. Eros was a cold, calculating man who could sniff out a lie before you even told it. But Asia’s determined gaze left her with no choice.  

With a deep breath, she dialed his number. The line rang once, twice, three times before he picked up.  

"What is it, Harper?" His voice was curt, void of warmth, like a blade slicing through the silence.  

"Uh... sir," Harper stammered, trying to steady her voice. "Where are you?"  

There was a pause. Harper could practically feel the weight of his suspicion through the phone. "Why do you need to know?"  

Her grip on the phone tightened. "I... I need to discuss something with you. It’s urgent. About work."  

A low chuckle echoed through the line, but it wasn’t one of amusement. It was cold, calculating. Dangerous. "Harper, if this is some kind of excuse to meddle in my personal life—"  

"No!" she interrupted, her voice cracking. "It’s nothing like that. I swear."  

Another pause. Then, finally, he spoke. "Tomorrow.” 

The line went dead. Harper stared at the phone, her heart pounding.  

Asia clapped her hands in excitement. "You did it! Now let’s figure out what to do next."  

Harper wasn’t listening. Her mind was still stuck on his tone, the ice in his words. She’d gotten the information, but at what cost?  

***

Eros stepped onto the balcony, his phone still in his hand. The city lights reflected in his cold, dark eyes as he ran a hand through his chestnut brown hair. Behind him, a blonde stirred in the sheets, her voice soft and sleepy.  

"Who was that?"  

"Nobody important," Eros replied, his tone dismissive. But his thoughts were far from dismissive. Harper had never called him outside work hours before. And the way she’d sounded—nervous, almost desperate—didn’t sit right with him.  

As he stared out at the city, a slow smirk spread across his lips. "What are you up to, Harper?"  

The sharp buzz of Eros's phone broke through the silence of his hotel room, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing as he answered the call without hesitation. "What is it?" His voice was cold, his tone void of any interest.  

"Your parents," the voice on the other end said, flat and to the point. "They’re coming back to the city this weekend."  

Eros’s grip on the phone tightened, the words hitting him like a slap to the face. He'd known this day was coming. His parents’ disappointment in him had been growing ever since he started his string of ridiculous scandals—infamous affairs, public embarrassments, and the kind of reckless behavior that could break a man’s reputation. But this was different. This time, there would be no escaping their judgment.  

"They’ve had enough of your escapades," the voice continued, indifferent to the storm brewing in Eros’s mind. "They want proof that you’re serious. You’re not just some playboy. They want to see a committed relationship. And more importantly, they want you to get married. This weekend. You have to show them you’ve changed, or it’s over."  

The coldness in Eros's veins deepened, his jaw clenching as the reality set in. His parents weren’t just coming to see him—they were coming to fix him. The pressure to meet their expectations was suffocating, but worse, if he didn’t act fast, he risked losing the company, his inheritance, everything.  

A low chuckle escaped his lips, but it was far from amused. "Marriage. A committed relationship. And they think that’ll fix everything, do they?"  

"Yes," the voice confirmed, and Eros could almost hear the smirk. "It’s the only way."  

The call ended, leaving Eros in the eerie quiet of the room. He was alone with his thoughts, but his mind raced through a million possibilities. He needed someone, someone who could play the part, who would pretend to be in love with him, who could convincingly be his fiancée for a year. After that, they’d get a divorce, and everything would return to normal. His parents would trust him again. The company would be his.  

But who? Who would be stupid enough to agree to such a thing? He had been with countless women, but none of them were smart enough, strong enough, to pull this off.  

Then it hit him.  

Harper.  

His assistant.  

She was the one person who never flinched at his charm. She was the one person who saw through his games, and though she was a thorn in his side, she had the qualities he needed—level-headed, professional, and detached. She wouldn’t fall for him. She wouldn’t get swept up in his lies. She was perfect for the job.  

A plan started to form in his mind, sharp and calculated. It was risky, but if he played it right, it would work. She would be the perfect scapegoat.  

Eros moved swiftly, throwing on his clothes as the plan took shape in his head. The sudden clarity was a welcome relief from the chaos in his mind. He had a way out.  

Once dressed, he stormed out of his hotel room, not sparing a glance at the blonde who lay tangled in the sheets behind him. She groggily mumbled something as he headed for the door. Without a second thought, he tossed a bundle of cash on her chest.  

"Get dressed. You’re done," he snapped, not waiting for her response. The money fluttered in the air as she sat up, glaring at him.  

"Asshole," she muttered, grabbing the cash and slipping out of bed. But Eros didn’t care.  

The plan was set in motion.  

He stepped into the elevator and punched in the number for the ground floor, his mind already on the next step. Harper would be his perfect solution. He’d present her with the offer—a year-long engagement, a fake marriage, and a tidy little paycheck at the end of it all. No strings attached. He knew her well enough to understand she wouldn’t be fooled by the romance or the lies. She’d play her part, just as he would.  

But the thought of working with her on something so intimate, even fake, stirred a mixture of unease and intrigue in him. Harper wasn’t like the others. She was too professional, too sharp. There was no room for any real connection between them, and that was exactly how he wanted it.  

As the elevator doors opened, Eros stepped out into the lobby, his phone already in hand. He dialed Harper’s number, his mind already running through the words he’d say.  

The phone rang twice before she picked up, her voice clipped and professional as always.  

"Sir?"  

"Harper," he replied, his tone cutting through the air like a blade. "We need to talk."  

There was a pause, then she responded, her voice cooler than usual. "About what sir?"  

"About you and me," Eros said, his smirk barely contained. "We’re getting married."  

The silence that followed stretched on, a heavy, palpable thing. Eros could practically hear her thoughts, her disbelief, her confusion. But he didn’t give her a chance to speak. "I’ll explain the details later, but for now, you’re going to pretend to be my fiancée. This will be a contract marriage—one year. After that, we go our separate ways."  

Harper’s sharp intake of breath was the only indication she was still on the line. Eros’s heart raced, the thrill of the challenge coursing through him. This wasn’t just about business. This was about proving he could make this work, even with someone as difficult as Harper. 

Discussing it at work wasn't okay. He had to take her off work so she would be able to think. 

“What?!”